Rare and unseen photos of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee

Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee passed away in August at the age of 93. Today marks the 94th birth anniversary of the BJP stalwart. (Express archive photo by Mahendra Parikh)

Vajpayee retreated from active public life over the last decade following the deterioration of his health and remained restricted to his residence. (Express archive photo)

Educated at Victoria College (now Laxmibai College), Gwalior and DAV College, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, Vajpayee holds an M.A (Political Science) degree and has many literary, artistic and scientific accomplishments to his credit. (Express archive photo)

He edited Rashtradharma (a Hindi monthly), Panchjanya (a Hindi weekly) and the dailies Swadesh and Veer Arjun. (Express archive photo by Mohan Bane)

Atal Bihari Vajpayee served as Prime Minister of India for three non-consecutive terms between 1996 and 2004. (Express photo)

Atal Bihari Vajpayee was conferred the Padma Vibhushan in 1992 in recognition of his services to the nation. He was subsequently awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, in 2015. (Express archive photo)

A homage to former Prime Minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

By 2004, Vajpayee, a two-time Prime Minister, became the first non-Congress leader to serve a full five-year term. (Express archive photo)

The stalwart had become full time RSS Pracharak a few years after his entry into politics, and, due to his oratory skills, he soon became the face of the Jana Sangh. (Express archive photo by RP Sharma)

He was arrested between 1975 to 1977 during the Emergency imposed by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. (Express archive photo)

In 1977, Vajpayee became the external affairs minister in Moraji Desai’s Cabinet. Even in those days, he was the party’s star speaker. (Express photo by Praveen Jain)

Vajpayee first became prime minister in 1996. He was in office for 13 days and was forced to resign after failing to muster support from other parties. He took the post after fresh elections by forming NDA. (Express photo by Praveen Jain)

President Shankar Dayal Sharma administering the oath of office to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the swearing in ceremony in New Delhi on May 16, 1996. (Express archive photo)

Vajpayee was also the first foreign minister to deliver a speech in the UN Assembly in Hindi. (Express archive photo by Mohan Bane)

A B Vajpayee and Sonia Gandhi at the 50th Independance Day celebrations. (Express archive photo by Arvind Yadav)

Atal Bihari Vajpayee with BJD leader Naveen Patnaik at the former's residence. (Express photo by Sunil Saxena)

A B Vajpayee visited the in riots effected parts in Godhra with the then CM of Gujarat Narendra Modi. (Express photo)

Vajpayee was conferred the Bharat Ratna in 2015. (Express photo by Praveen Jain/File)

In 2012, a wax model of Atal Bihari Vajpayee was unveiled by Nitin Gadkari at Mahila Vikas hall, oppostie to Mantralaya in Mumbai's Nariman point. (Express photo by Ganesh Shirsekar)

Vajpayee addressing a rally. (Express archive photo)

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee along with the visiting Prime Minister of Netherlands Wimkok and Mrs Magrietha Lummechiena Kok-Ronkema at a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi on November 22, 1999. (Express archive photo)

Atal Bihari Vajpayee, LK Advani and Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray. (Express archive photo)

Former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh meets Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Sharad Pawar is also seen in this picture. (Express photo)